Daniel 5:11 kjv
There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;
Daniel 5:11 nkjv
There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your father?your father the king?made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers.
Daniel 5:11 niv
There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners.
Daniel 5:11 esv
There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father ? your father the king ? made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers,
Daniel 5:11 nlt
There is a man in your kingdom who has within him the spirit of the holy gods. During Nebuchadnezzar's reign, this man was found to have insight, understanding, and wisdom like that of the gods. Your predecessor, the king ? your predecessor King Nebuchadnezzar ? made him chief over all the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers of Babylon.
Daniel 5 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dan 2:48 | The king made Daniel very great and gave him many excellent gifts, and he made him | King’s recognition of Daniel’s gifts |
| Dan 4:18 | king and made him the chief of all the wise men of Babylon. | Daniel’s position under Nebuchadnezzar |
| Ezr 5:34 | The king also gave orders and they brought Daniel in. | Daniel called before the king |
| Ezr 6:1-2 | of their governors…and Daniel distinguished himself above the presidents… | Daniel's distinguished service |
| Dan 2:10 | none of the Chaldeans or the enchanters could show the king his question. | Inability of other wise men |
| Dan 4:6, 9 | you…whom I know to be full of the spirit of the holy gods… | Daniel's divine connection |
| Dan 4:8 | chief of the astrologers | Title mirroring the queen’s statement |
| Num 23:23 | He does not look on iniquity in Jacob, nor see wickedness in Israel. | Divine impartiality |
| Ps 31:19 | Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you… | God's stored-up goodness |
| Prov 1:5 | Let the wise hear and gain in learning, and let the discerning get guidance… | The value of wisdom |
| Prov 2:6 | For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. | Source of wisdom |
| Eccl 2:26 | For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy… | God giving wisdom and joy |
| Jer 3:15 | and I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge | Pastors feeding with knowledge |
| Hos 4:6 | My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge… | Consequences of lacking knowledge |
| Luke 21:15 | for I will give you such a man of speech and wisdom, that all that oppose you… | Jesus speaking of giving wisdom |
| 1 Cor 2:10 | God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything… | Spirit revealing God's deep things |
| 1 Cor 12:8 | For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another… | Gifts of wisdom through the Spirit |
| Eph 1:8 | by which he lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight… | God’s lavish wisdom and insight |
| James 1:5 | If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all… | Asking God for wisdom |
| Gen 41:16 | Daniel, not I. But Daniel can interpret. | Daniel's own humility |
| Matt 13:52 | Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a… | Trained scribes’ understanding |
| Dan 1:19-20 | king spoke with them, and among all of them no one was found like Daniel, Hananiah, | Daniel and his friends’ exceptionality |
| Ps 78:72 | And so he shepherded them with great skill. | David's skillful shepherding |
| Isa 11:2 | And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and… | Spirit of wisdom on the Messiah |
| 1 Chron 28:21 | See, I have given my charge to your son Solomon to build a house for the Lord… | David giving instruction to Solomon |
Daniel 5 verses
Daniel 5 11 Meaning
This verse introduces the queen mother, likely Bathsheba, as she enters the banquet hall. Her arrival prompts Belshazzar to ask her about the mysterious handwriting on the wall. She identifies Daniel as the prophet whom Nebuchadnezzar appointed as chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers. Her testimony highlights Daniel's exceptional wisdom, evident in his spirit and understanding, and his ability to interpret dreams and explain riddles, particularly during Nebuchadnezzar's reign.
Daniel 5 11 Context
This verse occurs at the height of Belshazzar's blasphemous feast, where he uses vessels stolen from Jerusalem’s temple. The sudden appearance of the handwriting on the wall plunges the king into terror and confusion. The queen mother's intervention provides historical context and a solution, recalling the superior abilities of Daniel, a prophet whom Nebuchadnezzar had previously relied upon for wise counsel. This moment underscores the spiritual desolation of Babylon, contrasted with the true wisdom found in God's appointed servants, and sets the stage for divine judgment.
Daniel 5 11 Word Analysis
- u (ul) – Aramaic for "now" or "behold." Introduces a new thought or observation.
- wylx – Aramaic for "the queen." Indicates a person of high rank. In this context, she is the queen mother, a significant figure in royal courts.
- m’rywm’ – Aramaic for "queen." Specifically refers to the reigning queen mother, not the king’s wife. This detail is crucial for understanding her role and influence.
- mlkw – Aramaic for "king." Refers to Belshazzar.
- lym’ – Aramaic for "you." Direct address to Belshazzar.
- lkwl’ – Aramaic for "heard of." Implies past knowledge or rumor.
- hwhyx’ – Aramaic for "Daniel." The subject of the queen's praise.
- rwxn – Aramaic for "spirit." In the context of "the spirit of the holy gods," it refers to inherent wisdom, understanding, and divine enablement, a characteristic attributed to Daniel.
- qdqd – Aramaic for "understanding" or "intelligence." Refers to the faculty of comprehension and discernment.
- hbh – Aramaic for "interpret" or "explain." The core of Daniel's expertise that the king desperately needs.
- yyl – Aramaic for "dreams" or "visions." The subject matter Daniel interprets.
- hlhzyw – Aramaic for "riddles" or "enigmas." Denotes complex or difficult questions requiring deep insight.
- phrwqny ’ywr : Aramaic for "King Nebuchadnezzar." Establishes Daniel's proven track record with a previous ruler.
- rsmy – Aramaic for "enchanters" or "sorcerers." A category of Babylonian wise men.
- mglwyn – Aramaic for "astrologers" or "Chaldeans." Another class of wise men known for their supposed ability to read the stars.
- yh’tyd – Aramaic for "made." Refers to Nebuchadnezzar’s appointment of Daniel.
- hwhyx ryxw – Aramaic for "Daniel’s spirit." Emphasizes that Daniel possesses a unique, divine quality of wisdom.
- rwbqh – Aramaic for "understanding." Similar to qdqd, highlighting his intellectual and spiritual discernment.
- ’yyqd – Aramaic for "wisdom." The primary attribute Daniel is known for.
Words-Group Analysis:
- “spirit of the holy gods”: This phrase reflects the polytheistic worldview of the Babylonians, but applied by the queen to Daniel, it implicitly acknowledges a power beyond their gods. It signifies a profound, inherent capacity for divine understanding, distinguishing Daniel from all other "wise men" in Babylon. This aligns with Old Testament concepts of the Spirit of God empowering individuals for specific tasks and wisdom.
- “interpret dreams and explain riddles”: This highlights Daniel's specific skill set as recognized even by those outside his faith. It's not just general intelligence but a supernatural ability to unravel mysteries, a gift from God.
Daniel 5 11 Bonus Section
The queen mother’s mention of Nebuchadnezzar’s previous reliance on Daniel and his exceptional spiritual discernment (represented by "the spirit of the holy gods") echoes earlier accounts in Daniel chapters 1-4. Her words are not just historical recall but a theological statement in the context of a pagan feast. By speaking of Daniel’s unique wisdom, she implicitly contrasts him and his God with the Babylonian deities. This underscores the theme throughout Daniel: the sovereignty of the God of Israel over all earthly kingdoms and powers, and the supernatural wisdom He bestows upon His faithful servants, even amidst Gentile dominance. Her intervention highlights the critical importance of remembering God’s servants and His power when facing inexplicable circumstances.
Daniel 5 11 Commentary
The queen mother's testimony serves to reintroduce Daniel, whose prominence had waned during the reign of Belshazzar, perhaps due to Belshazzar's youthful disdain or his adherence to Babylonian idolatry. Her praise validates Daniel's extraordinary wisdom, attributing it to a divine source – a stark contrast to the powerless gods of Babylon. She establishes his credibility by referencing Nebuchadnezzar's past reliance on him for matters far exceeding ordinary knowledge, specifically mentioning his ability to interpret dreams, unravel perplexing questions (riddles), and discern truths. This affirmation by a high-ranking royal sets the stage for Daniel's divinely appointed message to a degenerate king and kingdom.